Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Tribes battle coronavirus, much like state and federal government

Gov. Kevin Stitt isn't the only head of a government in Oklahoma scrambling to bolster a health care system, rework a disintegrating budget and provide leadership to citizens as they struggle to cope with a virus that is threatening their physical and economic health.

The leaders of Oklahoma's 38 federally recognized Indian tribes are facing those same challenges.

It could be argued that the task is even more daunting for tribes, since many rely heavily on revenues from tribal casinos that their leaders have ordered temporarily shut down in an effort to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19.

Leaders of three large Oklahoma tribes took time out from busy schedules last week to discuss the impact the coronavirus has had on their tribes and efforts they are making to fight it.

Cherokee Nation

Effective March 16, "I made the decision to shut down all of our hotels and casinos," said Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, a northeastern Oklahoma tribe with more than 380,000 citizens.

The decision also was made to continue paying full wages and benefits to the workers, who number about 4,000.

The economic impact of those decisions on the tribal budget is more than $30 million a month, he said.

Adding anxiety to the situation is not knowing how long it will be before casinos can reopen.

"We're taking it in stages, but the truth is — as someone said yesterday in the media — we don't make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline," he said.

The tribe has strong reserves and can operate without major disruptions for awhile, but there is a limit, Hoskin said.

"Looking into the future, if this strings on for months we're going to have some challenging budget decisions to make in the Cherokee Nation."

Hoskin said continuing to pay workers was the right thing to do, but the cost is something tribal leaders will have to watch carefully.

"I can't tell you the time in which we can no longer bear it," he said. "It's not right now and it's not in a few weeks, but I think after a few weeks we have to look at the viability and sustainability of our businesses and have difficult conversations about how we go forward."

The financial stress comes at a time when the coronavirus is placing challenging demands on the tribe's health care and social welfare systems.

"The Cherokee Nation's health care system is the largest tribal health care system in the country," Hoskin said. "Also, within that, we have a very robust public health department. We're very prepared, as a general matter, for infectious diseases."

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The coronavirus has challenged the tribe's health care system with more requests for services, but so far it hasn't been overrun, the chief said.

Tribal health officials have faced the same challenges in obtaining test kits, swabs and personal protective equipment as their governmental colleagues across the nation, but probably not more or less so than anyone else, he said, noting that last weekend the tribe got some personal protective equipment from the strategic national stockpile and also has purchased items with its own resources.

Oklahoma tribes are in the middle of a months-long dispute with Gov. Stitt over tribal gaming revenues and whether tribal gaming compacts expired on Jan. 1, but Hoskin said he has seen no evidence of that interfering with the need for cooperation between tribal and state health officials in combating COVID-19.

Hoskin said just last Wednesday, the leaders of the state's five largest tribes had a conference call with Dr. Kayse Shrum, one of the governor's cabinet secretaries who has been helping coordinate efforts to combat the virus.

"She is someone we have a great deal of confidence in," Hoskin said. "I think that was a good move on the part of Gov. Stitt and one that I think will benefit all of us."

The need to deliver food to homes has greatly increased with the coronavirus, as many elders and others have "wisely stayed home," Hoskin said.

The tribe has tried to be innovative and resourceful in responding to those needs. For example, perishable food intended for the casinos was redirected to the homes of low-income elders and citizens who needed it, he said.

The Cherokee Nation has tried to take a leadership position in combating the virus, Hoskin said.

Shutting down the casinos on March 16 was probably the biggest thing the tribe could do to prevent spread of the virus by large numbers of people interacting with each other, he said.

"But we had already suspended all travel weeks before that," Hoskin said. "We had already taken measures that if people were traveling on their personal time, when they came back they would be quarantined for a period of time."

The tribe also had scaled back government operations so that thousands of employees in noncritical positions are now working from home or are on paid administrative leave.

"We've also been making lots of public service announcements on social media and otherwise to encourage people to stay home," he said.

The Cherokee Nation doesn't have the same authority to shut down a community as the governor of Oklahoma, but tribal leaders have been using their persuasive abilities, he said.

"We've been saying we're going to be guided by medical science and facts and we've let the science and facts lead us to conclusions with respect to recommendations for our citizens and directions for our workforce," he said. "I think ... we're doing what we ought to be doing to protect public health. ... That is how we will fight and ultimately overcome COVID-19.

"As bad as this is, it isn't even the worst thing that has happened to the Cherokee people in our history," Hoskin said.

"Our ancestors overcame much worse situations than this, but this calls for something that no generation of Cherokees has ever had to do, which is to fight something by staying home. For most of us, it's staying home, not rushing out to save your brothers and sisters. So unless you're a mission critical person, a health care person, the best way you can protect your fellow Cherokees is to stay home."

Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw Nation also has been working hard to fight the coronavirus, beginning with pandemic preparations that were initiated several weeks ago, said Choctaw Chief Gary Batton, whose tribe has nearly 200,000 members and is headquartered in Durant.

"We tried to get out in front of the crisis," he said.

On March 16, an executive order was issued to close casinos, resorts, wellness centers, community centers, head starts and other programs, he said.

"Effective March 24, administrative offices were closed to the public and tribal members were encouraged to contact member services by phone or email," Batton said. "With the closure of many Choctaw Nation facilities, the goal is to 'flatten the curve.'"

Tribal events also have been postponed or canceled through the end of April, the tribe said, adding that employees were working from home, but those that couldn't were still being paid and receiving benefits.

The tribe's three country markets and 17 travel plazas are still operating as essential businesses and the markets have added senior shopping hours and offer call-in ordering to try to help protect vulnerable populations, they said.

The tribe said it has also "increased cleaning and disinfecting of gas pumps every 15 minutes." Choctaw officials said Thursday that they had not yet experienced a surge of patients at the tribe's medical facilities, but they have taken proactive steps to be prepared.

Staff members have been stationed at the entrance of Choctaw Nation hospitals and clinics to pre-screen patients regarding their symptoms and provide testing for those experiencing coronavirus symptoms that meet the recommended criteria for testing. The screeners also offer medical guidance, care and instruction for quarantine procedures to minimize the spread of the virus. Tribal officials said they have been working in cooperation with state medical personnel.

"We know we are all better together, and in this time of crisis it will take everyone working hand in hand to save the lives of our fellow Oklahomans," the tribe said in a prepared statement. "We will continue to be a strong partner for Oklahoma."Tribal officials said they know the virus will have a financial impact on the tribe, but they have not yet quantified it. Both the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations filed lawsuits this week seeking judicial rulings that losses will be covered by business interruption policies.

"Everybody is working together — the tribes, the state and the federal government," Batton said. "That’s exactly the way it should be in a situation of this magnitude. Together we’re truly more. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma wants everyone to remember our faith in God, remain calm, and verify what you hear before taking any actions. Despite these tough times, we are committed to a return to full operations once this situation is contained."

Chickasaw Nation

Temporary closure of casinos has put pressure on the budget of the Chickasaw Nation, just like other tribes, said Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby.

"There is a substantial financial impact on our operations. However, we have worked to prepare for situations like this," he said. "While this is hurting the bottom line of our businesses, the health and safety of our citizens and employees is most important. For now, the planning and preparation we have done enable us to continue operating our programs and services at a high level."

Since closing its casinos March 16, the tribe has also "closed other businesses, canceled and postponed dozens of events and activities, closed our administrative offices to the public, and encouraged employees to work from home," Anoatubby said.

The tribe is also compensating employees who are temporarily unable to work as a result of the pandemic and "working diligently to meet the wide range of needs of individuals and families facing these unique circumstances," he said.

The tribe's Chickasaw Travel Stops remain open as a service to the public.

The Chickasaw Nation, headquartered in Ada, has more than 68,000 citizens and a jurisdictional area that includes much of south central Oklahoma. The tribe operates an extensive health care network.

"At this hour, we have not faced an overwhelming influx of COVID-19 patients," Anoatubby said. "However, exponential growth in the coronavirus pandemic requires a multifaceted approach to ensure health care workers are able to meet this challenge.

"As we continue working to mitigate the spread of the virus and minimize the rise in the number of patients, we are also working to acquire additional supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment."

Anoatubby agreed with Cherokee Chief Hoskin's assessment that friction between the tribes and Stitt on gaming compact issues has not prevented tribes from working well with the state in battling the coronavirus. And like Hoskin, he praised Stitt's appointment of Shrum to the governor's COVID-19 task force.

"She has worked with tribal medical experts in her capacity as president of Oklahoma State’s Center for Health Sciences. She is an expert on rural health care and the scope and magnitude of our medical resources and system," Anoatubby said. "We are ready to help our state because we know we are in this battle against the virus together."Our citizens live side by side with other Oklahomans," Anoatubby said. "We expect and encourage all people to follow the orders given in the communities or state where they live. We are urging employees who are able to work from home to do so, to practice social distancing while offices are closed to the public and shelter in place.

"While these are indeed trying times, we have a record of standing together as Chickasaws, Oklahomans and Americans and supporting one another through all manner of adversity. Courage, commitment, perseverance and partnerships will enable us to win this battle together."

For the past 30 years, staff writer Randy Ellis has exposed public corruption and government mismanagement in news articles. Ellis has investigated problems in Oklahoma's higher education institutions and wrote stories that ultimately led to two...
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